Thai Royal Lineage
During the 13th century, different royal Thai dynasties held dominion over specific areas of the Southeast Asian peninsula. Sukhothai, situated in the northern region, emerged as the foremost historical kingdom in what is present-day Thailand. It formed an alliance with the southern Sri Thammaso Rajanakorn dynasty of Nakhon Sri Thammarat kingdom.
Meanwhile, the interconnected dynasties in the central plains of Suphannabhumi and Lavo played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of the Ayutthaya kingdom. Particularly, the Suphanabumi dynasty, originating from the city of "Suphaburi" or "Golden Land," held a position of considerable influence. They solidified their power by forging an alliance with the Indian-Tamil of the Khmer Empire through a strategic marriage between a founder of their dynasty to a Khmer princess. Following the near-destruction of the Ancient Khmer Empire by the indigenous people of present-day Cambodia, the Suphannabhumi asserted their claim on the in-law's territory and sought retribution against the emerging Khmer kingdom. This pursuit of centuries of feud revenge, eventually leading to Ayutthaya's conquest of the majority of Khmer territories, including the razing of Angkor Wat (and every non-tributary capitals of Cambodia). Consequently, Ayutthaya reigned over Cambodian lands for centuries (until the French took them from us in 1887), significantly impacting the region's cultural exchange and stability. Consequently, Cambodian royal families have ancestral connections with our own, although historically regarded as having a lower status due to their marital ties with a Thai noble family. This noble lineage, known as "Aphaiwong," shares relations with numerous Thai royal families, contributing to our involvement in governing Cambodia and Laos.
By the 14th century, Ayutthaya had integrated and formed alliances, including through marital unions, with both the northern kingdom of Sukhothai and the southern realm of Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
Consequently, in Ayutthaya period, it became customary in our royal traditions to have four queen consorts representing each of these families:
The Western Consort, known as "Thao Intharasuren" from the Suphannabhumi dynasty.
The Northern Consort, referred to as "Thao Sri Chulalak" from the Sukhothai dynasty.
The Southern Consort, identified as "Thao Inthra Thevi" from the Sri Thammaso Rajanakorn (Nakhon Sri Thammarat) dynasty.
The Eastern Consort, known as "Thao Sri Sudachan" from the Lavo dynasty.
The present-day Royal Thai families trace our ancestry back to the dynasties of Ayutthaya (hence the reason why all of us have the same subfix “Na Ayutthaya” or “ณ อยุธยา” at the end of our last name, symbolizing a heritage that encompasses the bloodlines of diverse kingdoms throughout the region. As descendants of the Ayutthaya lineages, we inherit a historical legacy that intertwines with the aforementioned lineage of numerous kingdoms that once thrived across Southeast Asia. This ancestral connection represents the fusion of various cultural, historical, and dynastic legacies, illustrating a multifaceted and rich heritage that forms the cornerstone of Thailand's royal lineage.
